Automatic fire-protection device



June 3, 1930. B. RICHARDS AUTOMATIC FIRE PROTECTION DEVICE 2 sh'eets-shet. 1

Filed Nov. l2. 1921 tra \\\\\\\m u bnf June 3, 1930. '5. MCH/mns 1,761,406

AUTOMATIC FIRE PROTECTION DEVICE Filed Nov. 12. 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 3, 1930 PATENT oF-FicE BENJAMIN RICHARDS, OF KNILWORTII, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO AMERICAN 0F NEW YORK LA CE ANI) FOA-MITE CORPORATION, A CORPORATION AUTOMATIC FIRE-PROTECTION DEVICE Application filed `lli'overnber 12, 1921. Serial No. 514,482.

This invention relates to improvements in automatic fire protection devices. More particularly it relates to automatic sprinkleror quasi-sprinkler systems inv which a device, which may preferably be an ordinary automatic sprinkler o-f anyof the types now in common use, serves as a release for any de sired agent external to the piping of the system and also, if desired, separately or jointly as a release for fluid in the piping system in the well known way. In thus serving, its force is imposed asia compressive force directly on the fusible element of the sprinkler,y

rather than by tension; and this is in addrV tion to and without interference with the ordinary uses of asprinkler.

rlhe release for the external agent is accomplishedv without the need of liquid or gaseous pressure in the fluid distributing sys tem; but the agentthus released by external means may be either outside or inside of, i. e. operating through, the distributing system. And, if the latter, it may be either a single liquid as water, or may be the result of combiiiing liquids, as foam, or soda and acid, at a main control valve. As contrasted with present systems, all of which known to me require air or water, or something, under pressure in the distributing pipes, this needs nothing therein, yet the sprinkler serves as the releasing device. This makes possible a considerable saving, suiiicient to make the advantages of automatic protection available in manyv places where the expense of present systems with air compressor and drypipe valve is prohibitive. Compared with this last, apparatus of the invention may be equipped' with a valve of simple and inexpensive type. However', if preferred, the iii'ven'AY tion can be used with a distributing system normally filled with fluid under pressure, such as water, air, carbon-dioxide, or other liquid or gas.

Qiic-unistances under which the invention is particularly useful are',`where air cannot be kept in a system, on account of the atmosphere having` a corrosive action on steel and iron pipe, as in dye houses, tanneries, *chemiv cal works; or wherev the cost isv a matter of importance; or' where more promptaction wanted than is obtained by using an ordinary dry pipe system; or where it is desired for safety to prevent the discharge of a large volume of air upon the lire; or where the agent to be discharged is a gas, acid or otherV agent not desired continually in the pipes t0 avoid corrosion or danger to life.

i To obtainV the foregoing advantages the invention makes use of any ordinary or suitable typeof sprinkler and combines with it a solid element tending to thrust the sprinkler openand operatively connected with the device wliich is to be released, be it dry valve,

fire door, alarm, orwhat not without necessarily interfering with the normal ofce ofthe sprinkler. Preferably this solid opening ele- Y ment acts upon the sprinkler from within,

as does the fluid medium which thrusts they sprinkler open in ordinary air and water sys- Y tems, upon the dissolution of the strut there;

of. The opening element may be wholly contained within the enclosure, but otherwise projects out of it to a latch or the like which is released by its movement, and is connected to the mechanism which is to be actuated. The impelling force for the actuation is here represented as being in a part and primarily a weight or spring, which is held back by the sprinkler. Suitable means may be provided to transmit impulse from the force released by the latch to the apparatus which is to be operated, in order either to operate it or top` release some other force which is ready to operate it. F or this various mediums may be employed, for example, a mechanical system of rods, ties and levers; or an electrical system or a compressed air system of such small capacity that it can be kept tight with a small hand pump, without need ofthe power compressor which is objectionably expensivev as above mentioned and this tube, being so small, can be made of copper or brass with-Y out great expense;

Yeo

The description whichfollows and the accompanyingl drawing illustrate embodiments of the invention. If used to operate `a sprinkler system the water which is turned on Y practically instantaneously `by' the impulseV transmitted upon the opening f the4 sprinkler rushes through the distrib-ation? system', uns"4 retarded by the presence and back pressure of any body of air, till it inds the open sprinkler, and is discharged therefrom, but not from others unless or until the fire opens them, at which time their supply is ready for them. The embodiments and arrangements here shown are to be taken as illustrative only, the invention ybeing applicable in many other ways. It is intended that the patent shall cover by suitable expression in the appended claims whatever' features of patentable novelty exist in the invention disclosed.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation, in diagram, of apparatus, partly in section, arranged for use with a fluid or gas to be discharged by the sprinkler;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of apartoi: the same apparatus modified as it may be when there is no fluid to be discharged;

Figures 3 and 4 are side elevations of two modifications, showing fragments corresponding to parts of Figure 1; and

VFigure 5 is a similar elevation of a fingq ment of a modification of the type illustrC ted in Figure 2.

`Figure 6 is a horizontal section through a detail of Figure 3.

Referring to the drawings, 10, 10 int i cate distribution piping of a sprinkler system which may be assumed to contain water as in an ordinary wet pipe system, or air underV pressure as in an ordinary dry pipe system, or may contain other lire protective fluid, or may contain gas or air at atmospheric or other pressure or a vacuum. The reference numeral 11 designates a union fitting set into such a system of piping and having a socket 12 with screw threads adapt ed to receive the base 13 of a sprinkler, which for purposes of the invention may be oi any ordinary or suitable type, acting by collapse of the strut 14 when a predetermined temperature has been attained. The lischarge orifice is represented as closed by a movable valve body 15, whose opening is prevented by the yoke 17, at whose head is the water distributing portion 1G, mounten on the frame restraining the strut 14.

yA feature of particular importance in the invention, comprising an internal strut is represented, in Figure 1, as a rod 13 pressing' outward on the valve 15 and tending to open it, as pressure of airror water does in the sprinkler system now commonly in use. he rod 1S is guided by spiders 19 19 which center it in the nozzle. The rod may be of any suitable cross section, as for Xample triangular, passing through a round hole in the spider, in which case the friction is reduced to a minimum; and it may extend inward from the sprinkler valve to any suitable distance, its function being to engage, in some suitable place and manner, an element whose release will permit operation of the lire protective apparatus. In Figure 1 this element is a keeper 20, which in i'ullline position restrains movement of a lever 2l which is pulled by a weight 22. To illustrate various uses, this lever is shown equipped to operate sundry protective devices whenever it is free to swing to its dotted line position. Thus, there is a cable 23 by which it can operate a latch 24 for releasing a self-closing fire door 25. There is another cable 33 having a lug 33 by whichit can operate a latch 34 to release a protective cover 35 for a vat which may be supposed to contain chemicals of some sort requiring that form of protection. There is another cable 43 extending through suitable connection to raise a keeper 44 and thus to release a dry pipe valve 45. In the latter case it may be assumed that water or an extinguishing gas under pressure stands in the pipe 46 and is, by the opening of the valve admitted to the main riser 10L which may be part of the distribution system 1l() leadto the sprinkler which has operated the valve. In this case the valve is illustrated as being held closed by a strut 47 whose length can be adjusted by the turn buckle arrangement 4S for accurate setting, and which is based on a bridge 49 of which the keeper 44 constitutes one abutment. Upon the move-- ment of the keeper the bridge 49 yields, allowing water in pipe 46 to open the valve 4:" and to rush through the distribution system to the sprinkler whose heat-responsive strut 14 has collapsed. As there is not back pressure of air in the pipes, this flow is more rapid than in ordinary dry pipe systems as hitherto known, and avoids blowing the fire by the discharge of the excess air. Preferably the pipes between the sprinkler and the valve are filled with a. gas which will not support combustion, further avoiding the evil effect of air as formerly used.

The lever 21 is also represented as actuating a push pin 53 which by connecting the electrical contacts 54 sends out an impulse through wires 55. This may operate electrically any oi the apparatus whose release or actuation by mechanical means is herein described, including an alarm, or, such an alarm may be operated mechanically. And, as indicated by the lever 21, and pin 53, considered as a switch, mechanically operated, a predetermined movement of a part of the mechanical system may set an electrical system into operation.

The illustrations thus given indicate the variety of fire protective apparatus that may beset into action instantly by the collapse of the sprinkler strut 14. It is obvious that any of them may be used without the others. Figure 2 calls attention to a particular feature in which the water pipes 10 are replaced by screw plugs 10. In this case there is no provision ior water to reach the union fitting 11, and we have an illustrationl of an automatic system, whichmay be called a quasisprinkler system, comprising an instance in" more complicated releasing arrangementsv now on the market. In" particular, the superiority to fusible link systems willbev noted, beca-use" the heavy load that can be put on a sprinkler'hastens the yielding when operating temperature has been reached. Obviously, the unfed sprinkler can release andv 1 permit the working` of` any additional apparatus desired, including an electrical circuit as indicated in'Figure 1. Incase it opens a main valve 45 as thereindicated, the riser 10ELV may be connectedto open sprinklers arranged on a deluge system. c

Assuming, however, that: the collapse of the sprinkler' strut 14' is desired to cause discharge of water from' that very sprinkler the drawing shows in Figure l an arrangement by whichfthe apparatus becomes tight for the discharge of all water through the sprinkler. To this end a case is provided tohold the inward end of the rod: 18 which extends so far inwardy from the valve 15 'that it sticks out on the other side of the piping system, andito'hold the keeper 2O4 which iti restrains,

thisbeing connected with the union fitting l1 i by a neck 61 screwed into ition the side `opposite,k the sprinkler, havinga small passage 62 through which the rod18 runs loosely. The whole being arranged withthe rod 18 vertical and with the sprinkler at' the top, collapse of the strut, when heated,permits the rod 18 to rise, impelled by its load represented by the weightl 22, or an equivalent spring, until the end of lever 21' has clearedV the keeper 20 as indicated in the upper dotted line; whereupon the keeper 20 falls to' the lower dotted line position, and with it the rod 18 carrying down a petticoat valve 63 to close the opening 62', at the top of which a valve seat' maybe provided as indicated. A guard 64 maybe inserted' higher upinv the neck 61 to prevent therod 148 from being thrown out of the apparatusA on this upward movement. Tater released at the kmain valve 45, rushing through the system b and.Y arriving 'at this sprinkler.A is then discharged in the usual way and therek is no leakage throughthe opening providedfor the rod 18 because the valve thereon closes thatopening. The rod', dropping down out of they passage does no't'interfere with the normal discharge ofthe K V neck A61e wheren it projects into the distribui- Y sprinkler. y y l .f y

he connection from the rod 18 to the a'p- The simplicity of this device, as

paratus that is to be operatedmay be eectedl by any suitable means, such, for example, as a system of ties or linkage of any sort, one of which isindicatedin Figure l, or an electrical system also indicated in Figure 1, where the wires 55 may operate avalve or automatic release, as Well as the alarm above mentioned;

or' a pneumatic or otherfluid system indicated in Figures 3 and 5. The type suggested iny Figure 3 shows a fragment of an auxiliary air system of which the small chamber 71 and si'nalll pipe 73 are parts. closed by a diaphragm having a central perforation into which fits the valve-like head ,78T of a rod 18" which corresponds in manyV respects to the rod 18. Pressure of air` or other-fluid such as acid which it' might bedesired-to combine or add to a liquid already in the main pipes in thelittle copper pipe 73 and chamber 71 seats the diaphragm 70 against the valve head 78, and pushes outward onthe rod.18 and sprinkler valvel so long as the Astrut 14 thereof remains intact'.

ButV upon the dissolution of the, strut the rod 18 is free to rise and its head 78 thus releases air from` the system 71, 7 3.` The nature and extent of" The chamber is Soi this ksystem is notshown, but it may be supposed to be arranged, according to principles well known, for controlling the action of Va distant valve or Aother apparatus by reduction of air pressure on a pneumatic tripping deviceV or piston. In this case, however, the

capacity of the system would be relativelyV small; and therefore a proper pressure could be maintained under service'conditionswithI simple and inexpensive apparatus;y The rod' 18 inthe'arrangement of Figure 3, is in two separable parts, the upper of which is a part of the rod for' the strut purpose thus far men tioned, but is petticoated as at 79 sothat the"y rushI of water will carry it out, if it has not been sooner ejected; and one of the petticoats has an apron arranged unsymmetrically as at 7 9 so that it will be deflected whenejected and thus will pass clear of the water distributor 156 and not remain to clog the passage.

vThis part of the rod is also designed with there may be water or air standing underA pressure 4in 4the distribution system 10, the escape of which through the releasing device will be prevented yby the closure of valve 63',

seat 62 arranged at the extremity of the tion system. Pressure of air or water in the lcarriedon the rod 18, down upon a valve l 'permitting the rod to function and then rethe keeper 20, should be great enough to over come the iiuid pressure, but the valve is kept closed by pressure from the sprinkler valve 15, effected by screwing the sprinkler in; when this disappears, as when the sprinkler strut 14 has collapsed, the valve 63 will open,

turn to position to prevent leakage. In order to make the valve 63 automatically seated notwithstanding the varying degrees the sprinkler may be screwed into the fitting,

la com aression s rinr 63 ma be arovided strung around the rod 13 and allowing some variation of distance between the sprinkler head and the seat of the valve 63', one method of doing which is indicated in Figure Il. Apparatus of this type may be used to operate nearby protective devices through the cord 33, or as heretofore described., in addition to sprinkling the fire. The main control oi the distant supply or dry pipe valve may be by some other system; for example. by the usual method of an automatic dry pipe valve controlled by the pressure Vof air in the pipe 10, assumed for this purpose to be connected to the pipes 10.

In some cases it may be found that there is a sutiicient pressure in the system so that the valve 63 can be kept seated by air pressure alone, yet sufiicient drop consequent upon the opening of the sprinkler so that it will surely be opened by the pre-existing upward pressure of the keeper Q0, when the opening of the sprinkler has occurred.

In these cases of Ythe separable rod, part ,may be ejected and part may drop, out of the way of the current of water. Although Figure 1 indicates a direct connection from the weight 22, associated with a sprinkler, to the distant dry pipe valve or to other apparatus, it will often be inconvenient to have at each springler a weight heavy enough to do the required work at the distance, and such weight is unnecessary. The weight 22 or an equivalent spring may be small, at each sprinkler head, and a number of them may be connected to the same wire Q3, 33 or 43 which may run to a relay weight (not shown) which is tripped by movement ot' the cable 23,33 or 43, and whose tripping relays the pull in sufficient strength to the particular apparatus that is to be operated, or the load may be put directly in the release levers without weight.

I claim as my invention:

l. The combination with a sprinkler head structure having a thermally responsive closure, of a strut pressing outward onV said closure said strut comprising a plurality of separable parts, one of which parts is adapted to .be carried out upon the opening of said closure and the whole of which parts are adapted in combination to form part of a connection with a second fire protective device and to restrain the operation thereof until the said opening of the' closure releases it.

Y 2. The combination, with a sprinkler head having a thermally responsive closure, of a strut pressing outward on said closure; said strut having a detlecting vane whereby it is adapted to be ejected through the opening of said closure, and adapted to restrain the operation of a lire protective device before being released by said closure.

3. The combination, with a sprinkler head having a thermally responsive closure, of a strut restrained at one end by said closure, and a valve, arranged on said strut at a distance back from said closure, for closing an opening in the distribution system in which the sprinkler is; there being beyond said opening an auxiliary chamber and elements for operating a fire protectiveV device by means of said strut, the said valve being flapted to close communication between the ribution system and said chamber.

a. The combination, with a sprinkler head having a thermally responsive closure, of a strut restrained at one end. by said closure, and a valve, arranged on said strut at a distance back from said closure, for closing an openingT in the distribution system in which the sprinkler is; there being beyond said opening an auxiliary chamber andr elements for operating a iire protective device; said chamber including a diaphragm in which is said opening closed by the valve and having fluid under pressure communicating with fire protective apparatus adapted to be released by release of said fluid.

5. rIhe combination, with a sprinkler head having` a thermally responsive closure, of a strut restrained at one end by said closure, and a valve, arranged on said strut at a distance back from said closure, for closing an opening in the distribution system in which the sprinkler is; there being beyond said opening an auxiliary chamber and elements for operating a ire protective device, said chamber being separated from the distribution system by said valve, pressure in which system seats said valve toward the auxiliary chamber; there being a stop limiting the movement of the strut toward said closure.

G. The combination, with a sprinkler head having a thermally responsive closure, of a strut restrained at one end by said closure, and a valve, arranged on said strut at a distance back from said closure, for closing an opening in the distribution system in which the. sprinkler is; there being beyond said opening a connection to a iire protective device; said sprinkler head having a screw base whereby pressure may be applied by it through said strut to said valve to maintain it seated while ready for action and thus to keep the distribution system tight.

7. The combination with a sprinkler head having a thermally responsive closure of a strut pressing outward on said closure and standing in the discharge passa-ge leading thereto while the closure continues; said strut being provided with means whereby it avoids vobstructing said passage upon the opening of the closure; the whole being adapted in combination to form part of a connectionwith a lire protective device and to restrain the op'- eration thereof until the said opening of the closure releases it.

8. The combination of a mechanically acting system for lire protection andv a sprinkler system for lire protection with a single thermally operated device closing the sprinkler system and holding the mechanical system setready for action; there being a mobile point of connection between the device and the mechanical system which may be in any oi' various positions and yet accommodate that position of said device in which it makes tight closure ofthe sprinkler system.

9. The combination of a mechanically acting system for tire protection and a vsprinkler system for fire protection with an automatic thermally controlled sprinkler head in the sprinkler system; the automatic element of the sprinkler head being arranged to control also the mechanical system; thesaid systems being constructed and arranged with reference to each other so that there is a control `element in the mechanically acting system which may be set in any part of a certain zone and yet be ready for action to release its system, and the sprinkler head of the sprinkler system being arranged to set the said element in some part of said Zone when it is itself seated tightly.

10. The combination of a mechanically acting system for fire protection and a sprinkler system for fire protection with controlling mechanism for both systems in which a single element closes the sprinkler system and holds the mechanical system in restraint; the restrained forces of the two systems being imposed upon the said element in substantially the same direction, with the said force of the mechanical system having a range of points of application permitting the said element to'be set tightly with respect to the sprinkler system.

11. The combination of a mechanically acting system for fire protection and a sprinkler system for lire protection with controlling mechanism for both systems, comprising a thermally responsive sprinkler head on which the restrained forces of both systems are imposed in substantially the same direction; the point of application .of the force of the mechanical system being variable in the said direction to permit the sprinkler to be set tightly with respect to the sprinkler system.

and tending to move the same to its open position, said valve member controlling an inlet to the sprinkler head.

14. In an automatic lire protection system, the combination with a sprinkler discharge head and an extraneous protection device arranged for coincident operation, of a closure cap for the head, a release member for said device comprising a loaded strut located within the head and tending to move the cap to its open position, and external, l

thermally released means for holding the cap in its closed position.

Signed at Chicago, Illinois, this twentyeighth day of March, 1921.

BENJAMIN RICHARDS. 

